Cold Lonely Courage (Madeleine toche Series Book 2) by Soren Petrek Page B

gun under her pillow for the time being. She swung her legs onto the bed, listening to the tick of the clock and the slow roll of thunder approaching. More rain, she thought as she propped her pillow up against the headboard, picking up the gun again. She pulled a clean cloth out of her suitcase at the end of the bed and started to wipe down the barrel, knowing that she wouldn’t sleep until she spoke to DuPont.
    At six Madeleine got up and took a jacket out of her closet. It wasn’t waterproof, but it would also help to hide the pistol she tucked into an inside pocket. Maybe this is foolish, she thought. If DuPont is in some kind of trouble surely he knows it’s coming. Leaving the gun in her pocket, Madeleine made her way into the passageway and walked towards the rear of the ship where she could take another stairwell up to the main deck. DuPont’s cabin was towards the stern at the opposite end from the salon. The thunder was louder once she reached the top of the stairs. She was about to step out onto the main deck and into the passage that led down towards DuPont’s cabin when it occurred to her to exercise a little more caution. I brought the gun, didn’t I, Madeleine thought as she slowed and glanced around the corner in the direction of DuPont’s door. She saw one of the German agents glancing down the hall in the opposite direction. She stepped back, anticipating that he would look in her direction next. She waited a moment and then looked around the corner carefully just as the man turned the door knob and stepped inside. Madeleine reached into her jacket and felt the handle of the pistol. She looked behind her and saw a wastepaper basket with a newspaper sticking out of the top. I can’t believe I’m doing this, she thought as she pulled the paper out of the basket and folded it in half. She took the pistol and placed it in the crease of the paper and held it in the crook of her left arm, leaving her right hand free. DuPont is in trouble and no one else is here to help, she thought as she walked out into the corridor and made her way towards his door. These men aren’t drunk and there are two of them, she reminded herself as she approached the door. She reached out and carefully placed her hand on the door. If they grab me, I’ll scream. No, I’ll shoot them, she corrected herself, turning the knob with great care to keep it silent. Foolishly, the Germans had left it unlocked. Madeleine glanced in both directions and pushed the door open. DuPont was tied down to a chair in the middle of the room. Both agents had their backs turned to the door and were leaning over him. As the first man turned, she handed him the newspaper with her left hand and fired the gun through it with her right. His body spun back as she turned and shot the second man while he was still reaching into his coat pocket for a weapon. The bullet hit him in the center of his body, knocking him to the floor. Madeleine kicked the door closed behind her, keeping the gun in front of her in case either man was still alive.
    “My God,” DuPont said looking up at her. “Whoever you really are, Madeleine Behren, you saved my life.”
    “I think we both have things to tell each other,” Madeleine said, tucking the pistol back into her coat and reaching behind DuPont’s chair to untie his hands.
    DuPont stood, rubbing his hands. “These two turned out to be Gestapo, but how did you know?”
    “I didn’t. But I overheard them in the stairwell discussing you in an extremely unfriendly way. I was on my way over to tell you what I’d heard when I saw that one slip into your cabin,” Madeleine said, gesturing to the second man she’d shot.
    “And you just thought you’d bring a gun?” DuPont said. “I’m glad you did. Are you an agent or something? I have never seen anything like that before.”
    “I doubt that, Monsieur. Those Gestapo agents didn’t tie you to a chair for no reason.”
    “I suppose not. And because you’ve saved